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Watch surveillance video of an incident that led Cassandra Feuerstein to file a lawsuit against the Skokie Police Department. She claims she was assaulted while in custody after she was arrested for DUI. Feuerstein's attorney Torri Hamilton describes the incident. (Published Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013)

A Chicago woman has filed a lawsuit against the Skokie Police Department claiming an officer used excessive force after she was arrested for DUI.

Cassandra Feuerstein, 47, was arrested for DUI after officers found her pulled over at the side of the road and asleep behind the wheel.

But Feuerstein claims her civil rights were violated after she was taken to the police station.

Surveillance video portrays a calm scene as Feuerstein interacts with an officer until she says she asked to call her husband and kids.

Officer Michael Hart called her out of the cell, and less than 20 seconds later, the video shows Hart throwing the 110-pound woman back into the cell, launching her face-first into a cement bench.

The rest of the video shows two other officers assisting her as she bled on the floor.

Feuerstein says several bones were shattered in her face, requiring reconstructive surgery and a titanium plate in her cheek.

"This can go from 0-60 so quickly, like this man did with someone who's clearly no threat to him is dangerous -- could be dangerous with that type of power that he has," Feuerstein's attorney, Torri Hamilton, said. "She doesn't even know, we don't even know what she's going to need in the future."

The officer's report said Feuerstein was not looking at the camera while being processed and charged her with resisting arrest while she was being brought back to the cell.

The State's Attorney later dropped the resisting arrest charges, and Feuerstein pleaded guilty to drunk driving.

Her lawyer says she's proceeding with the civil suit because authorities are not pursuing charges against the officer.